BACOLOD City – To ensure a peaceful MassKara Festival, an augmentation force of around 1,000 police officers from other police stations in the region will be deployed in Bacolod City.
The MassKara Festival, a renowned annual event filled with colorful masks and street dancing, will officially commence on Saturday, Oct. 7, and culminate in major festivities on Oct. 22.
The festival will begin with a countdown, termed as “salubong,” at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Oct. 6, running from the evening until midnight.
Colonel Noel Aliño, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), confirmed that the additional police team has yet to arrive in the city.
A formal send-off for the MassKara security troops is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5.
Additionally, Aliño mentioned that the local police force has been on continuous duty since Sunday, Oct. 1.
Attendees can also expect police kiosks stationed across all festival sites for enhanced security.
In a stern message to festival-goers, both residents and tourists, the city police director said, “Do not engage in disruptive behavior. If you’re caught causing trouble, you may face consequences that will prevent you from returning home.”/PN
